Last night, Barney Frank (D- Mass.), America’s most prominent gay Jewish politician, spoke on the current state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the initial event of “Israel Issue Week”, hosted by the Georgetown University College Democrats and J Street U.

Meandering from Israel’s treatment of homosexuals to his opinion of the new Clint Eastwood flick J. Edgar to the national allegiance of the many Portuguese-Americans in his Massachusetts district, Frank entertained his audience with a variety of anecdotes, jokes, and pragmatic assessments of the Arab-Israeli conflict and America’s relationship with Israel.

Throughout his speech and the question and answer session that followed, the Massachusetts congressman expressed both criticism for the policies and attitudes of Israel that he considers extreme, such as expanded settlement activity in the West Bank, and general support for the strong relationship between Israel and the United States. Reflecting on this nuanced position, Frank said that “the notion that when you’re friends, you don’t normally express criticism, is simply wrong.”

On current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Frank said that “If I was an Israeli, I would not be voting for Prime Minister Netanyahu.” But he also applauded Netanyahu for defending gay rights, harkening back to the Israeli leader’s speech to a joint session of Congress in May during which he said that “in a region where women are stoned, gays are hanged, Christians are persecuted, Israel stands out.”

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On October 26, Georgetown announced that former National Football League Commissioner and current chair of the University’s Board of Directors Paul Tagliabue (COL ’62) and his wife, Chandler Tagliabue, have made a $5 million gift to the University, $1 million of which will go to the Georgetown’s LGBTQ Resource Center.

The funding to the Center will go to the creation of the Tagliabue Initiative for LGBT Life: Fostering Formation and Transformation. Although the specific goals for the initiative are still being worked out, LGBTQ Resource Center Director Sivagami Subbaraman wrote in an email that it will broadly focus on inclusivity on campus, and the Center is considering a “hybrid student affairs/academic program.”

Subbaraman believes that the size of the Tagliabues’s donation, as well as their position of power and fame, will be invaluable to the Center and the promotion of LGBTQ rights and awareness around campus as well as nationwide.

“[Tagliabue has] impeccable stature as current Chairman of our Board of Directors, former NFL Commissioner, our [former] basketball captain, and alum class of ’62—all of which points to the simple fact that LGBTQ work is as valid, valuable and worthy of the highest support as much else on campus,” she wrote. “It sends a huge message not just about the value of the work being done here on the Hilltop, but across the country—to so many who do this work in so many other universities.”

The Tagliabues have been known for their work as LGBTQ allies for years, and in 2005 received the Stay Close Individual Leadership Award from Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. The rest of the money they donated to the University will go toward need-based scholarships, athletic scholarships, and strategic initiatives.

H/T Washington Blade, photo from Georgetown.edu

Yesterday afternoon, members of the LGBTQ community, as well as friends, family, and University administrators, gathered in Copley Formal Lounge for the third annual Lavender Graduation.

Congressman David Cicilline (LAW ’86), the first openly gay mayor of Providence, R.I., and fourth out member of Congress, delivered the keynote address.

Cicilline, who unseated succeeded longtime Providence mayor Buddy Cianci in 2002 and was elected to Congress in 2010, encouraged graduates to get involved in the wider community.

“I think our community and our country needs partners at every level of government,” he said. “No matter where you find yourself, it’s important to participate in the civic life of this country.”

Student Ellen Greer (SFS ’11) shared her own experiences as a student leader, telling students, ”you owe it to yourselves and to your community to keep LGBT life on this campus great.”

Greer also recalled the strides made by the LGBT community during her time at Georgetown. When she was a freshman, the LGBTQ Center was just getting its start after a violent anti-gay hate crime.

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Tuesday night in White-Gravenor, LGBTQ rights advocate Ryan Conrad shared his unconventional opinions about the futility of marriage rights.

“Is [marriage] the battle worth fighting for?” he asked. “I think not.”

As the author and founder of Against Equality, an online critique of “mainstream gay and lesbian politics,” Conrad was invited to campus by GU Pride, the Lecture Fund, the LGBTQ Resource Center, and the Women’s Center as a part of Gender Liberation Week.

“What does marriage do for us?” Conrad said, explaining that marriage would do nothing to help the queer community in terms of health care benefits or monogamy. Marriage, he claimed, is an arbitrary, social institution that is coveted beyond its usefulness.

“The conservative Christian Right and the gay liberal [political] narrative look exactly the same,” he argued.

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Just like last year, Vox has compiled a guide to “news you can use”, or in other words, an excessively comprehensive review of last year’s important news stories. Today, we cover the crime issues that made headlines.

Sexual assaults

The past three years, there have been a series of sexual assaults following a similar formula: a man enters a home, gets in bed with a female resident, attempts to sexually assault her, and leaves before the woman is able identify the perpetrator. Some students call the assailant the “Georgetown Cuddler”—an unfortunate nickname that we won’t be using anymore—though it very well may be multiple perpetrators.

While no connection has yet been made, the recent sexual assault in Burleith bears similarities to other crimes, including an assault in Copley, an assault at gunpoint on Prospect Street, and an assault on the 3800 block of Calvert Street. In April, student groups held a vigil for victims.

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In today’s Voice news section, I wrote about how the homophobic crimes and sexual crimes against students at Georgetown has begun to affect—and possibly damage—how outsiders view Georgetown.

One particularly big affect of these crimes is that Walter Schubert, shown right, who is son and brother to three Georgetown graduates and a national figure in LGBT rights movements, is demanding a meeting with President DeGioia to share ideas he has to make Georgetown safer for marginalized students. So far, he has sent two letters to try to secure that meeting:

Dear Dr. DeGioia:

It is the intention of this letter to convey to you my deep concern at what appears to be continuing harassment of, and in some cases violent physical assault of LGBT students at Georgetown University. Despite recent positive actions by the University, it is my strong belief that the current policies and procedures intended to safeguard LGBT students on and immediately off campus remain woefully ineffective.

It may seem odd to you that I am writing this letter, as I am not a graduate of Georgetown University. However, as the son of a John Carroll Award recipient—Walter B. Schubert (1965 C’51)—the brother of two graduates of the School of Nursing: Patricia Schubert (‘84) and Margaret Schubert Sullivan (‘80), and a friend to countless Hoyas, I feel a sense of loyalty to my community, to my father, and sisters that I must speak up, as I can no longer ignore these heinous acts. Homophobia is a national problem, but as evidenced by recent events, it appears that homophobia is also a serious problem that requires urgent and revitalized attention at Georgetown University.

In speaking with Erik Smulson, your Chief of Staff, a few weeks ago, I was informed the three most recent incidents of harassment and physical assault occurring the last week of October, which put two gay students in the hospital, happened “off campus.” I have great difficulty accepting what appears to be an “off campus” defense. Many students live “off-campus” in the immediate vicinity of campus boundaries, and I don’t believe that absolves the University from responsibility to protect GU Students. It is simply irresponsible for such a prestigious, Jesuit institution to ‘ho hum’ such hateful acts that occur only inches from its front gates.

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Students at the November 2 anti-hate crime vigil

Three American University students are producing a short video about the several bias-related incidents that took place on Georgetown’s campus this semester. Though they are producing the film for a class, their main intention is to post it on the website run by “Not in Our Town,” a group that responds to hate crimes across the country.

Ashley Dejean said that she, Marley Cook, and Jasmine Rao spent three days at Georgetown filming the scene of the crimes and interviews with several students and faculty who were involved with the response to the incidents, including Carter Lavin (SFS ’10), Ellen Greer (COL ’11), Adam Talbot (COL ’12), and LGBTQ Center Director Sivagami Subbaraman. The film will run between three and five minutes.

Subbaraman in the LGBTQ Center

LGBTQ Center Director Sivagami Subbaraman told the Voice that yesterday’s incident—which was described in the campus-wide email as “a written slur posted on the door of the LGBTQ Resource Center”—involved a note addressed to her personally that was taped to center’s door.

Subbaraman did not reveal the exact wording of the note, but said it was directed at her personally, not the wider gay community.

“I have no idea whether this is because of the recent hate crimes or not, but whatever it is, I just want to say that I’m not afraid of their fear,” Subbaraman said. “They are afraid of me, but I’m not afraid of their fear.”

Subbaraman said she was pleased with the University’s inclusion of her in the response to the crimes through every step of the process, including drafting the emails that went out to students after each incident.

Now, she said, the power to fight homophobia lies with the campus community. Subbaraman encourages students of all orientations to use the LGBTQ Center as a safe space, but also as an informational resource for those who are unfamiliar or disagree with homosexuality.

“We have to put out a call to say, ‘Look, we can talk this out,’” Subbaraman said. “We have made so much progress since the Center was opened. I’m nervous that this is going to set us back.”

Full text of the e-mail Subbaran sent to members of GU Pride Monday afternoon after the jump.

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A couple hundred students gathered in Red Square Monday evening holding candles to speak out against the recent anti-gay violence.

Representatives of student groups from GU Pride to the Georgetown branch of the NAACP spoke at the vigil, as well as Georgetown faculty, staff, and administrators. Chris Farris and Todd Metrokin, Co-Chairs of the D.C. group Gays and Lesbians Opposing Violence, and Sergeant Carlos Mejia from MPD’s Gay and Lesbian Liason Unit also made an appearance.

“We are here today in solidarity with the victims of these crimes,” Co-President of GU Pride Joseph Graumann (SFS ’11) said. “But solidarity is more than sympathy. It’s more than just standing by. It’s about action.”

Students at the vigil advocated a range of responses to improve student safety and address what they perceive as a campus culture that tolerates homophobia. Among the suggestions were a student community watch program and higher pay for DPS officers, as well as individual precautions like programming the DPS number into cell phones and reporting crimes when they occur.

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A campus-wide e-mail was just sent out regarding the recent bias-related assaults and announced that today there was another anti-gay hate crime: a slur was written on the door of the LGBTQ Center.

According to the e-mail:

As a Catholic and Jesuit university, we are committed to fostering a community that is welcoming to all and values understanding, tolerance, inclusion and respect.  Over the past week, we have seen several incidents take place on or near campus that are especially troubling because they have targeted members of our community with homophobic language and disrespect. Two incidents were off campus assaults and today a written slur was posted on the door of the LGBTQ Resource Center. These acts are unacceptable. We take these incidents and the safety of our campus community very seriously and are taking steps to address the needs of our students at this time.

The e-mail, sent from Vice President of Student Affairs Todd Olson, Vice President for Institutional Diversity and Equity Rosemary Kilkenny and Vice President for Mission and Ministry Philip L. Boroughs, strongly condemns the attacks and says that the University has been working with the Metropolitan Police Department on the cases.

Full e-mail after the jump…

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